Samsung has a phone for almost every budget. Whether you are willing to spend more than $ 1,000 on Galaxy S22 Ultra or just want the basics, there is sure to be something for everyone.
Samsung has already launched several phones this year, so there are many new options to choose from. The Galaxy S21 FE debuted in January and then followed Galaxy S22 line February and recently announced Galaxy A53 5G, a middle-class model that debuted in the spring. All of these phones have a long life cycle ahead of them because they are still new.
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This means that it is an ideal time to consider buying if you are looking for a new device. Samsung has also pledged to support four generations of Android and Samsung operating system updates on these devices, an improvement over a previous three-year promise. Samsung usually announces its new Galaxy S phones in the first quarter of the calendar year, which means the Galaxy S22 line is still new and should feel fresh for a while.
Finding the best Samsung phone will eventually come down to preference. Choosing from so many options can be complicated, so here’s how to decide which Samsung phone is best for you.
Samsung
The $ 1,200 Galaxy S22 Ultra is Samsung’s most expensive non-folding phone. With its huge 6.8-inch screen and four-lens camera, it’s best for those who want the biggest screen and the best camera in the new Samsung phone. Unlike last year’s model, the Galaxy S22 Ultra also comes with Samsung’s S Pen at no extra cost, just like Samsung’s older Galaxy Note devices.
At 6.8 inches, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is noticeably larger than the 6.6-inch Galaxy S22 Plus and 6.1-inch Galaxy S22. The camera is also one of the biggest reasons why you should consider this phone compared to Samsung’s smaller and cheaper devices. While all three new Galaxy S22 phones can capture better photos in the dark and have improved color and contrast, the S22 Ultra is the only one with two telephoto lenses. As a result, the S22 Ultra has the closest zoom of all Samsung phones – and perhaps of all phones, period. It also has a 108-megapixel main sensor similar to last year’s phone, along with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and two 10-megapixel zoom lenses.
The high price and large size of the Galaxy S22 are probably too much for most people, and the battery life could be better. But for those who love big screens and who really want a superior zoom camera and S Pen for recording, the S22 won’t disappoint.
Richard Peterson / CNET
The Galaxy S22 Plus is the mid-range child of the Galaxy S22 line, but don’t ignore it. Its 6.6-inch screen size is just right for most people, has a sharp new design of glass and metal, and the camera has received a major upgrade compared to the S21 generation. Although it is a little more expensive than $ 1,000, it seems like the right option for those who want a screen that is big, but not giantly paired with one of the best cameras.
Many of the updates Samsung has made to the Galaxy S22 line are iterative, such as new processors and a refreshed phone design. But the jump from the 12-megapixel camera on the Galaxy S21 to the 50-megapixel camera on the S22 is perhaps the most noticeable improvement. Both the Galaxy S22 Plus and the regular Galaxy S22 have this new camera system, along with other internal camera enhancements, resulting in better performance, color and detail in low light. The Galaxy S22 Plus also lasted the longest in CNET’s battery test from the Samsung Galaxy S22 phone, although battery life is still average, not impressive.
All in all, the Galaxy S22 Plus is the best choice for those who want a high-end phone with a high-end camera and a large, bright screen.
Richard Peterson / CNET
Android users don’t have much choice when it comes to small phones, but Samsung is changing that with the Galaxy S22. The standard Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch screen, while many competing Android phones have screens about 6.4 inches or larger.
The $ 800 Galaxy S22 otherwise brings many of the same benefits as the Galaxy S22 Plus. These include a 50-megapixel camera with better low-light photography, a new processor and a revamped design that looks more elegant than the S21. It is essentially a smaller version of the Galaxy S22 Plus, except that the Plus also has a larger battery, faster charging and ultra-wideband support.
The Galaxy S22 is the best option for those who want a more compact phone that still has most of the premium features found in larger and more expensive Samsung phones. Just keep in mind that the smaller size of the Galaxy S22 also comes along with a shorter battery life than the S22 Plus and S22 Ultra.
Lisa Eadicicco / CNET
The first S20 FE impressed us seriously with its balance between performance and price, and the new Galaxy S21 FE goes further with a solid triple camera, a colorful screen and the same powerful processor found in the flagship S21. It has a 6.5-inch screen, making it an ideal choice for those who want a phone that is bigger than a regular Galaxy S22 without the high price of the Galaxy S22 Plus. Although it lacks some features of the Galaxy S22 – such as improved night photography and a newer processor – this phone has a sharper front camera for selfies and video calls.
The Galaxy S21 FE faces tough competition from Google’s Pixel 6, but if you’re looking for a great Samsung phone and don’t want to pay the most for the flagship models, then the S21 FE is worth considering.
Lisa Eadicicco / CNET
New for 2022, the Galaxy A53 brings you a host of Samsung features and power for just a fraction of the price of the S Series. It boasts a far larger screen and a more versatile camera cluster than the iPhone SE, although Apple’s budget model delivers faster performance.
Still, Samsung fans will appreciate what they get here given the affordable price. The Galaxy A53 5G has an ultra-wide lens for capturing photos with a wider field of view, and it also supports night photography. The picture quality is not as good as you would get on more expensive Samsung phones like the Galaxy S21 FE or Galaxy S22, but it is certainly clear and colorful enough for basic shots. Other features include a long-lasting battery, four guaranteed generations of Android operating system updates, and a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
All in all, the Galaxy A53 5G is a convenient choice for those whose priority is a large screen and long battery life of less than $ 500. Just keep in mind that you may have to deal with some occasional delays, and the camera is not as advanced as the one on more expensive phones. Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.
Angela Lang / CNET
Samsung’s original folding phone was a new idea, but the latest generation – the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 – is further refining it. It’s still essentially a tablet that folds in half to become a phone, but this smartphone has an improved hinge, better specs all around, a 5G connection and a larger screen on the outside that actually makes it usable as a phone. Foldable Samsung Galaxy phones may not be to everyone’s taste and are certainly top notch, but if you’re looking for a futuristic foldable phone, the Z Fold 3 is the best to buy.
Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Patrick Holland / CNET
If the Galaxy Fold is a tablet that folds in half to become a phone, the Z Flip is a phone that folds in half to become a smaller phone. When opened, this Samsung Galaxy smartphone has a large 6.7-inch screen, but fold it in half and it becomes a small square that can easily be put in the pocket of jeans or jackets. We like its neat design, along with decent versatile specs and 5G connectivity, and it’s a more affordable folding option among Samsung Galaxy phones.
Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip.
Samsung
The A42 5G Android phone is just below the A52, has less RAM, loses the macro camera and has a lower resolution front camera. Still, it still has a 5G connection, along with a larger battery and a slightly larger screen, which could make it a great affordable option for a Samsung phone for those of you who watch a lot of videos on the go.
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
If 5G speeds are your priority on your Android phone, but you don’t want to spend a lot of money, Samsung’s Galaxy A32 5G is what you should look for. Its low price makes it one of the cheapest Samsung Galaxy phones with 5G technology currently available for purchase, and you still get a large 6.5-inch screen and a multiple rear camera. It’s not a challenge for the overall performance of the S21 line, but it’s a solid all-round device for the money.
Samsung
The Galaxy A12 is one of the cheapest phones that Samsung sells and it is one that should be considered for those of you who simply want a phone for all your basic living needs. If you don’t care about extravagant cameras or supercomputer-level processing power levels, you won’t have to pay for them with this model. It doesn’t have 5G, but it has four rear cameras, a 6.5-inch screen and a 5,000 mAh capacity battery. Due to the generally low requirements of the specifications, this battery should easily last all day.
The camera is one of the biggest factors that distinguishes the Galaxy A12 from other cheaper Samsung phones. During CNET testing, the Galaxy A12 took noticeably better photos than the cheaper Galaxy A03S and Galaxy A02S, especially in low light. Just remember that you will probably have to buy a microSD card as the A12 comes with only 32GB of built-in memory.
Samsung also recently launched the Galaxy A13, which has 5G, more storage space and a sharper 50-megapixel camera, which could be worth considering when looking for Samsung Galaxy phones.
Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy A12.